Wortman back in custody

A 26-year-old Loleta woman facing allegations of killing her 6-week-old son by feeding him methamphetamine-laced breast milk was arrested again last week on drug charges.

Maggie Jean Wortman, who had been free after posting $50,000 bail, appeared in Humboldt County Superior Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to a single count of violating her probation by using a controlled substance. She is due to appear in court again Wednesday for a bail hearing.

Wortman was arrested in December after her infant son, Michael Phillip Acosta III, was transported to a local hospital on Nov. 21 because he was not breathing. He was later pronounced dead, and a subsequent autopsy concluded he died of "methamphetamine toxicity."

Prosecutors allege that Wortman was taking methamphetamine and passing it along to her son while nursing. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.